Machine for applying a beaded edge to an advancing textile strip

ABSTRACT

A machine to apply a bead of plastic substance over a narrow marginal portion of an advancing strip of textile fabric. Means are disclosed for restricting the width and thickness of application of the substance and the reliable union of the substance with the base fabric.

United States Patent [191 Miller et a1. 1

[451 Apr. 23,1974

[ MACIIINE FOR APPLYING A BEADED EDGE TO AN ADVANCING TEXTILE STRIP [75] Inventors: Samuel E. Miller, Winnetka;

Warren N. Crawford, Lincolnwood, both of 111.; Cletus C. Lawter, Spartanburg, S.C.

[73] Assignee Quick Service Textiles, Inc., Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Feb. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 116,500

[52] US. Cl 118/102, 118/63, 118/68, 118/122, 118/227, 118/261 [51] Int. Cl B05c 1/08, B05c l/l6, B05c 1l/04 [58] Field of Search 118/122, 123, 63, 227, 118/228, 59, 102,68, 261; 117/44 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 951,386 3/1910 Buchwald 118/123 X 2,322,533 Mayer 118/123 X 2,416,721 3/1947 Upson 118/59 X 3,050,776 8/1962 Kopper 118/123 3,511,680 5/1970 Marcell et al 117/111 R X 3,632,383 1/1972 Dominick et a]. 117/47 H X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 596,525 l/l948 Great Britain 118/1'23 Primary Examiner-John P. McIntosh Attorney, Agent, or FirmLeonard S. Knox [s7 ABSTRACT A machine to apply a bead of plastic substance over a narrow marginal portion of an advancing strip of textile fabric. Means are disclosed for restricting the width and thickness of application of the substance and the reliable union of the substance with the base fabric.

1 Claim, 21 Drawing Figures PA'TENTED APR 2 3 I974 v SHEET q or 4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the co-pending application of Samuel E. Miller, Ser. No. 819,131, filed Apr. 25, 1969, now Pat. No. 3,571,814, there is disclosed a textile strip to be incorporated in the waistband or other edge portion of an article of wearing apparel. It is pointed out therein that the strip is characterized by transverse resiliency obtained by the use of monofilaments of nylon or the like as the filling, the warp being of any other desired yarn. Since the strip is most conveniently cut from wide goods, the operation of cutting leaves rough edges which, if not buffered, will abrade the fabric adjacent to the edge of the strip, e.g., the shell of the article. To obviate the undesirable effects of such abrasion, a narrow bead of a plastic substance is applied to both edges of the strip to protect against the needle-like ends of the monofilaments. However, since the primary characteristic of the strip resides in its transverse resiliency, it is important that the bead be confined to a zone which is as narrow as possible in proportion to the whole width of the strip while securing the bead adequately to the fabric; otherwise, the strip is rendered undesirably rigid. Another important desideratum is to maintain a thickness for the head which is not substantially greater than the thickness of the base fabric, in order to avoid uncomfortable and unsightly ridges in the region of the waistband.

lt hasbeen known to provide textile fabrics with a bead or itsequivalent to cover a raw edge. Various modes of application are also known, e.g. extruding a substance, such as a plastic composition, on to the edges and curing the same, attaching a folded-over strip of plastic sheet, fabric or the like over the rough edge and securing the same by an adhesive, sewing and other expedients which are uncontrollable as to width, thickness and uniformity, or which render the thusmodified strip unduly bulky or stiff. In the case of extruded or otherwise-applied plastic substances, difficulty has been encountered in obtaining an acceptable bond with the base fabric so that the bead is capable of being readily stripped off, with consequent scrapping of the material.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a machine to receive the textile strip with the edges thereof in a raw condition and to apply a protective beadto one or both edges thereof. The machine functions to apply a flowable plastic substance in a restricted region along one or both edges, the width and thickness of application being rigidly controlled to confine the substance to only so much of the width of the strip as. is necessary for adequate bonding thereof to the base fabric and in a zone which is, narrow as possible, having in view the end use of the finished strip, viz. a strip which iscomparatively narrow and intended to flex transversely. If the width of the bead is excessive, fiexure is decreased. The invention includes novel means to confine the applied substance to such acceptable width and thickness, and to bond the same reliably withrthe base fabric.

Althoughthe ensuing description discloses the invention in terms of applying the substance to both edges of the strip, it will become apparent that only one edge may beso treated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation of a machine embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial detail illustrating the pair of wheels for applying the plastic substance to the edges of the moving strip;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

F IG. 4 is partial cross-section of one of the wheels for guiding the strip after the moist substance has been applied to the edges thereof;

FIG. 5 is a detail as viewed from one end to show the two sets of wheels for applying the plastic substance;

FIG. 6 is detail of the stripping mechanism, as seen in elevation;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6, to illustrate certain details thereof;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detail of one of the wheels of FIG. 5 and associated mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a view of a portion of FIG. 9, but further enlarged to show one aspect of the parts;

FIG. 11 is a cross section on the line 1l11 through the wheel and gate of FIG. 10, in one of the two positions of the latter.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10, to show other aspects of the parts;

FIG. 13 is a cross section on the line 13--l3 through the wheel and gate of FIG. 10 in the other of the positions of the latter;

FIG. 14 illustrates a pair of wheels as shown in FIG. 5, together with the mechanisms for withdrawing the wheels from active position and switching the gates of FIGS. 10 to 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross section on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14, but with certain parts eliminated;

FIG. 16 is a cross section on the line 16-16 with cer tain parts removed;

FIG. 17 is a cross section taken on the line 17-17 to show the moving strip in its traverse through the oven;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1, but arranged for the processing of a strip having transverse curvature;

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 17, but showing a transversely-curved strip;

FIG. 20 is a detail to show the applying wheels arranged to process a transversely-curved strip; and

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a transversely-curved strip. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention machine is capable of applying the bead either to a strip which is flat, or one which has transverse curvature as set forthin my said application. For use as a component of a waistband assembly, the strip will vary in -width, say from 1 inch to 1-16 inches and the machine is so constructed and arranged as to accommodate some pre-determined range of widths extending between reasonable limits, adjusting means being included as a part of certain components which bear a critical relation to the width of the strip.

As the description proceeds, it will become apparent that the machine is not arranged to manufacture the strip per se, but only to incorporate the bead with one or both edges thereof. To'this' end, the strip is supplied on a spool and, following processing, is again wound on a spool.

Where, herein, we refer to a bead, the term is intended to denote a marginal component of the base strip which effectively covers the abrasive edge. The cross section of the bead may vary from essentially circular to essentially rectangular or even a tear-drop form. The exact cross section is not critical just so long as the needle-like ends of the weft threads are embedded therein.

Adverting to FIG. 1, there is shown, in somewhat schematic form, a machine embodying the principles of the invention. Although indicated only diagrammatically, the assemblage includes a suitable framework 10, upon which the various movable components are mounted.

Strip material having rough edges resulting from cutting, is supplied in the form of a spool 16, supported on a flat plate 17, which has a spindle 18 rotatably mounted on the framework. The strip is unwound from the spool by traverse means to be described and is fed through a slotted guide 21 to an idler wheel 22. The strip passes over a spring-biased rod affixed to the actuating button or the like of a normally-closed switch 24 in circuit with the motor and braking means to be described. Thus, when the tape runs out, the rod reacts to the force of the spring, resulting in opening of the switch, stoppage of the motor and application of the brake. A second support 17a carries a succeeding spool 16a, in order that the leading end thereof may be spliced to the trailing end of the preceding one. Splicing means are shown at 4 and the trailing and leading ends to be spliced are in broken lines identified as 4a and 4b. It will be understood that, after splicing, the strip is placed in operative relation with the switch 24 and that this step will automatically re-start the machine. Spool l6a also has a guide 21a and a spindle 18a.

In order that the momentum of the strip will not cause overfeed and necessitate re-location thereof for the splicing operation, an air-operated brake 32 is located in its path. Feed of compressed air to the brake is controlled through the switch 24. Upon resumption of operation, air pressure is released.

The motor 30 also drives the roller 33 which, together with an associated pinching roller 34, traverses the strip through the machine. Desirably, the grip of the rollers 33 and 34 is enhanced by providing a knurled or other kind of roughened surface on the periphery of one or both rollers. Traversing force is also applied by rollers 41 and 42, which are arranged to overfeed the strip and maintain that portion of strip beyond them slightly slack. Driving of the rollers 41 and 42 is by means of a chain 46 and sprocket 47. A conventional chain-tension idler is shown at 48.

It will be seen that, after passing the brake 32, the strip is fed over the rollers 41 and 42, over a guide pin 51 and between the shoes of a second, air-operated plication of air to the brake 52 the strip, in advance thereof, may have a reverse force applied thereto, by movement of the roller 55 from the full line position to the broken line position and tension is maintained. Time delay means is'utilized so that brake 52 is applied first and roller 55 shifted immediately thereafter. The purpose of the roller 55 will be described subsequently.

After passing the roller 55, the strip is guided over another idler roller 61 and between heaters constituted as an upper unheated plate 65 and a lower electrically heated plate 64 arranged to pre-heat the strip, prior to presentation thereof to the bead applying station. The upper plate of each set is connected to the piston of an air cylinder 66. Air feed to these cylinders is phased with the driving motor so that, upon interruption of current to the latter, the cylinders are actuated to free the strip from the plates and thus avoid overheating of the strip during idling.

Following passage between the plates 64 and 65, the strip passes over a driving roller 43 and an idling roller 44. Roller 44 is arranged to be retracted and restored by means of a pneumatic cylinder and piston 7. The cylinderand piston 7 are arranged to retract the roller 44 simultaneously with actuation of the cylinders and pistons 66. As a result, the strip is raised away from the lower, heated plates during stoppage of the machine and overheating of the strip thus avoided. After traversing the rollers 43 and 44, the strip passes through a set 67 of electrically heated forming dies arranged to impart transverse curvature to the strip when such characteristic is desired. The die set 67 consists of male and female halves, arranged to be separated by an air cylinder 69, in the same manner as described in connection with the plates 64 and 65.

Upon exit from the die set 67, the strip is'fed over an idler roller 71 and past the two sets of wheels 72-72, 7373 (FIG. 5) for applying the edge bead 20 in two stages, and then past the stripping means 75. (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). As will be pointed out, it has been found infeasible to apply the bead at one station as fouling occurs. Further details will be set forth subsequently.

After application of the bead 20 which, at this stage, is viscous, the strip traverses a drying oven several times, (FIG. 17) in this case three, being guided over seven idlers 81. Another idler 81a is journalled on one end of a dead weight arm 82 pivoted on the framework at 83 in order to maintain the strip in tension during its passage through the oven notwithstanding any variation in the speed of travel to which the strip may be subjected.

To assure that the material comprising the bead 20 is absolutely dry, the strip is further subjected to the ambient air by passing over idler rollers 85, before being received between the rollers 33 and 34, heretofore mentioned, and is then wound on a take-up reel 87 rotated in any suitable manner by a slipping drive, as is well-known. An alternate take-up reel is indicated at 87a, so that feed to one reel may be terminated and resumed on the other with minimum time delay.

Sometimes the customer will specify some special finish, e.g., a silicone film. In such cases a roller 89 running in a bath 90 of the prescribed liquid is arranged to transfer the same to the moving strip.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown .a partial radial section through one of the idler rollers upon which the strip travels, e.g., rollers 81, following application of the bead 20. The circumference of the roller is relieved by grooves 88 to define a crowned land 91 upon which a central region of the strip rests, while the beads are isolated from any surface which might otherwise deform them. FIG. 21 illustrates the same arrangement as in FIG. 4, except that in this case, the strip is shown as curved transversely.

Similarly with respect to FIG. 19, which is the same as FIG. 17, except that here the strip has transverse curvature. It will be noted that, in travelling with its principal dimension horizontal, the cambered type of strip has its concave side downward. Thus the substance forming the bead, while still semi-fluid, will tend to migrate toward the edges, whereby the width of the head is confined to a narrow marginal zone.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 16, there is shown novel means for applying the bead 20 to the edges of the strip under close control. That is to say, the means and process are of a character resulting in an inconspcuous bead which effectively covers the edge of the strip to preclude the needle-like ends of the weft monofilaments from shifting or acting abrasively on an adjacent portion of the article of clothing with which the strip is incorporated. Since the bead is to be anchored to the base fabric, it must be wide enough to grip at least one warp thread, but not so wide as to detract from transverse resiliency.

. The bead comprises a suitable, heat-curable polymer,

e. g. polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, or mixtures thereof, polyamides and the like which, when applied, is fluid but, after being subjected to heat, assumes a solid, yet flexible character.

By way of example, the bead-applying means will be described as operative on both edges of the strip and, as shown and described, the polymer, or equivalent, is applied while the strip is moving upwardly in a vertical plane. However, one edge can be processed simply by disabling one-half of the applying means, as by stopping the supply of the liquid substance. Further, the process will be described as applying the substance in two stages. It will he understood that one stage may prove adequate, depending upon the nature of the strip, the substance forming the bead, the cross-sectional dimensions of the bead, and other factors.

The motor drives a countershaft 101 by means of a belt 102 and pulleys 103, 104. A double pulley on the counter-shaft 101, through belts 111, 111, drives the pulleys 109, 109 individual to and coaxial with respective upper wheels 73, 73. The wheels are on respective shafts 113, l 13, which also carry pulleys 114, 114. The pair of lower wheels 72, 72 are carried on respective shafts 116, 116 and have individual pulleys 117, 117. Belts 121, 121 transmit driving force from the pulleys 114, 114 to the pulleys 117, 117. Since all of the pulleys are the same size, the wheels 72, 72, 73, 73 all rotate at the same speed and, since this speed is synchronized with the speed of the moving strip, application of the liquid substance to the edges of the strip will be accomplished uniformly in two stages. The strip moves upwardly (FIG. 6), so that the first stage occurs at the lower set of wheels 72, 72 and the second stage at the upper set of wheels 73, 73.

Inasmuch as all four wheels and their associated mechanism are the same, detailed description thereof will be confined to the lower left assembly, as shown in FIGS. 9, 14, 15 and 16. Each wheel is provided with a reservoir 131, which is supplied with the fluid substance 130, from a reservoir (not shown) through a tube 132. A predetermined depth is maintained by means of an overflow pipe 135, which returns the substance to the reservoir via a trough 137. By using a running thread and locknut 138 at the upper end of the pipe 135, the level of the liquid can be adjusted to obtain a desired depth of immersion of the wheel 72. As will appear, the substance picked up on the peripheral portion of the wheel will bear a definite relation to the size of the bead as applied at the first and second stages. Therefore, the amount carried from the reservoir 131 to the periphery of the wheel and the amount thereof deposited on the strip can be regulated, by changing the level. Notwithstanding the foregoing mode of regulation, the amount of substance carried by the wheel to the strip can also be adjusted in terms of the depth of film 141 (FIG. 11). To this end, each wheel is provided with a cam-like, wiping member having working surfaces 142a and 142b, and capable of being shifted from between two principal positions.

The active portion of the periphery of the wheels 72, 72, 73, 73 which carries the film 141 of the substance (FIGS. 2 and 3) is defined by a recess 151 (FIG. 11) and the film is confined to that recess by means of the surface 142a of the member 142., when this latter is shifted to that position. It will be noted from FIGS. 10 and 11 that the surface 142a wipes against the periphcry of the wheel 72, just above the level of the substance (FIG. 9) to return the excess to the reservoir 131, thus leaving unaffected the film of substance in the recess 151.'When the machine is stopped, it is necessary to activate means to preclude the substance from dripping off the wheel on to the strip whereat the same may harden in an indiscriminate form and result in scrapping of the affected portion of the strip being processed. Accordingly, upon stopping the machine, the member 142 is shifted from the position of FIG. 10 to that of FIG. 11 to introduce thesurface 14% into the recess 151, thereby to dam movement of the film beyond the confines of the reservoir. The disposition of the parts is such that the wheels 72, 72, 73, 73 may continue to rotate for about following stoppage of the remainder of the machine in order that the film in the recess 151 may move to a position whereat dripping on the strip may be avoided. Details of the mechanism for switching the members 142 will be described in what follows.

In addition to the damming action of the surface 142b of the member 142, the invention also includes means to shift the wheels 72 72, 73, 73 laterally to interrupt deposition of the liquid substance on the strip during stoppage of the machine. To this end, the shafts 113, 113, 116, 116 are journalled in bearings 161 (FIG. 14) secured to an upstanding leg 162 of an essentially L-shaped support 163. The foot 164 of this latter has slots 166 (FIG. 15) through which shoulder screws 167 pass. The foot 164 is guided laterally for rectilinear movement in a shoe 171, secured to the framework 10. A set screw 172 threadedly engaged in the end wall of the sho e serves as an adjustable stop to limit the retracted position of the support 162. The relation be tween the edges of the strip and the wheels applying the bead thereto is necessarily based on the width of the raw strip. For the processing of wider or narrower strips, the wheels and associated parts may be rendered adjustable.

Reverting to FIG. 9, it will be seen that the member 142 is carried on one end of a lever 181 by means of a pin 182, the lever being pivoted on the wall of the reservoir 131 at 184. The upper end of the lever is connected by a pin 188 to the piston rod 187, of an air cylinder 189, or equivalent power means. The lower end of the cylinder is connected to a lug 191 of the support leg 162 by a pin 192. Thus, the cylinder 189 may pivot when air is admitted or discharged. A control valve connected by tubing to an air supply (not shown) serves to activate and de-activate the cylinder and piston. It will have become apparent that activation of the cylinder and piston will extend the rod 187, such action having a dual function: (1) switching the member 142 from the position of FIG. to that of FIG. 12, with the result previously described and (2) shifting the support 162 and the wheel mounted thereon away from the strip. The control valve may, alternatively, be of the solenoid type arranged to extend the cylinder and piston upon interruption of current to the driving motor 30. Inasmuch as the circuit connections and arrangement of the pneumatically controlled components are well-known, further elucidation is deemed unnecessary. It will be understood that, upon resumption of operation, the cylinder and piston are utilized in the reverse sense to restore the wheels to activate relation with the strip.

A time-delay relay (not shown) is employed to stop the motor 30 after actuation of the cylinder and piston 50. In this way the stripping surface 142b is given sufficient time to clean residual film from the Wheels 72, 72, 73, 73 and cause the same to drip back into the reservoir. It is to be noted that when the machine stops, th wheels are not retracted. Accordingly, unless the substance is returned to the reservoir, it will drip on to the strip and the cam members 142.

By forming slack in the strip by means of the arm 49 the roller 55, upon stoppage of the machine the strip is, in effect, reversed in direction. Consequently, upon restart, the portion of the strip which, at the moment of stopping, failed to acquire the substance from the set of wheels related thereto is then treated. Thus, interruptions in the bead are avoided.

Conveniently, the reservoir 131 is affixed to the support 162, since the member 142 and lever 181 are mounted thereon. However, it is within contemplation to fix the reservoir and to mount the member 142 and lever in some other way.

As pointed out above, one of the primary objectives of the invention is the confinement of the finished bead to a narrow zone at the edge of the strip. It will be appreciated that application of the liquid substance to the strip by transfer thereof from the periphery of the wheel to the strip is attended with some difficulty. Due to capillary attraction of the meshes of the woven material, the substance tends to spread inwardly of the strip. To alleviate this condition, novel stripping and beaddefining means 75 (alluded to previously) are employed.

Turning to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a block 201 affixed to the framework 10 is paired with a laterally-movable block 202, these being disposed on respective faces of the strip. During normal operation, the blocks occupy the relation shown but, during rest periods of the machine, the block 202 is retracted. This last mentioned result is attained by providing the block 202 with a rod 204 guided for rectilinear movement in a fixed bearing 205. The rod 204 has a collar 206, to which the outboard end of the piston rod 208 of a pneumatic cylinder 209 is secured. Thus, activation of the cylinder at port 211 will retract the block 202 and activation at port 212 will restore the block. The parts are so related that such restoration will shift the block 202 into relatively close contact with the strip 15, but the actual abutting relation is obtained by the resilient bias of a spring 215 extending between the bearing 205 and collar 206.

The opposed faces of the blocks 201 and 202 each have an outstanding blade 220, shaped like an inverted V, including working edges 221 bearing on an adjacent face of the strip, in order to wipe any excess of the fluid substance from both faces. By reason of the slope of the edges 221, the just-applied substance is wiped toward the edges of the strip and, by gravity down a pair of drip wires 223, 223, for return to the reservoir therebelow. In the case where the bead is desirably to be applied to only one edge of the strip, a single wiping edge may be employed. Such edge would be at an angle to the direction of movement of the strip and so positioned as to produce flow of the substance toward the edge at which the bead is required. The mechanical arrangement is so related to the linear speed of the strip, that a predetermined amount of the substance is retained at the extreme edges of the strip. To concentrate such amount into the desired bead, air is blown through pairs of nozzles 231, 231 located adjacent each face of the strip and supported in blocks 232, 232, which are bored for influx of compressed air through tubes 235. The overall width of the blade 220, as seen in FIG. 8 is desirably only slightly greater than the width of the strip. If the width of the blade is too great, the stripped substance tends to accumulate and interfere with the operation.

In order to maintain fluidity of the substance during passage of the strip through the wiping means and thus avoid fouling, the blocks 201, 202 are hollow for the circulation of cold water therethrough via inlet and outlet conduits 237, 238, respectively.

To reduce the overall length of the machine, the strip is directed over suitably located idlers, such as 81, 81a, in order to traverse the oven a number of times (FIGS. 1, 17 and 19). Further, a more compact oven results in more efficient utilization of electric current.

During passage through the oven, the bead is still in a semi-plastic state, i.e., it has a tendency to run. The strip 15a, (FIG. 19) which is transversely curved and is travelling in a horizontal, or essentially horizontal path, is oriented with its concave face downward. In this way, the substance will flow toward the edges, the convex upper face of the strip, regarded from the center toward each edge, corresponding essentially to downwardly and outwardly inclined planes. Another consideration lies in the face that, because of such outward flow, the edges of the strip carry a comparatively greater volume of the substance than does the central region. Consequently, the rate of cooling is less at the edges and the resulting temperature gradient thus contributes to flow toward the edges.

Referring to FIG. 18 and considering the orientation of the strip as seen in FIG. 19, it will become necessary to impart a twist to the strip, e.g., as indicated at X and Y.

In the case where a transversely curved strip a is processed, the substance-applying wheels 72a, 72a, 73a, 73a, are on inclined axes (FIGS. 18 and 20), so that the principal plane of a wheel is substantially tangent to the curvature of the strip at its related edge. Thus, a uniform rate of transfer of the substance to the strip is assured.

It will be understood that the depth of the film carried in the recess 151 of the wheels 72, 72, 73, 73 is a function of the speed of the wheels. By regulating such speed, more or less of the substance may be transferred to the moving strip.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying a bead surrounding the rough edge of a strip of porous textile fabric, said bead being applied over a predetermined narrow zone adjacent at least one edge of the strip and penetrating the same comprising: interruptable power means to tra-- said stripping means comprising a blade bearing on the strip having at least one working edge inclined at an angle to the direction of advance of the strip, means to direct said excess deposit from said edge away therefrom and to a place of disposal, said directing means comprising a wire extending away from that end of the blade toward which said excess is constrained to flow, said wire having a free end positioned away from the 

1. A machine for applying a bead surrounding the rough edge of a strip of porous textile fabric, said bead being applied over a predetermined narrow zone adjacent at least one edge of the strip and penetrating the same comprising: interruptable power means to traverse the strip in a vertical plane from a source of supply through the machine to a point of delivery, means located between said source and point to deposite a fluent, heat-settable substance on both faces of the strip in the region of said edge, means to guide the strip past said depositing means, means to strip excess deposit from the strip and divert the same toward said edge, said stripping means comprising a blade bearing on the strip having at least one working edge inclined at an angle to the direction of advance of the strip, means to direct said excess deposit from said edge away therefrom and to a place of disposal, said directing means comprising a wire extending away from that end of the blade toward which said excess is constrained to flow, said wire having a free end positioned away from the moving strip. 